Analysis of the Genomic Features and Evolutionary History of Pithovirus-Like Isolates Reveals Two Major Divergent Groups of Viruses
Victória Fulgêncio Queiroz, João Victor R. P. Carvalho, Fernanda Gil de Souza, Maurício Lima, Juliane Duarte Santos, Kamila Lorene Soares Rocha, Danilo Bretas de Oliveira, João Pessoa Araújo, Leila Sabrina Ullmann, Rodrigo Araújo Lima Rodrigues, Jônatas Santos Abrahão
Abstract
. Despite being genomically and morphologically very diverse, the taxonomic categories of some clades that form this phylum are not yet well established. With advances in isolation techniques, the speed at which new giant viruses are described has increased, escalating the need to establish criteria to define the emerging viral taxa. In this work, we performed a comparative genomic analysis of representatives of the putative family Pithoviridae. Based on the dissimilarity of orpheovirus from the other viruses of this putative family, we propose that orpheovirus be considered a member of an independent family, Orpheoviridae, and suggest criteria to demarcate families consisting of ovoid-shaped giant viruses.